Unbridged monocyclopentadienyl metal complex catalyst and a process for polyolefin production

Abstract

There is provided a catalyst containing a transition metal precursor having the formula (C 5 R 1 5 )MQ 3 , a bulky non-phenolic compound, an aluminoxane, and optionally a Brφnsted acid and/or a support or spray drying material. There is also provided a polymerization process employing the catalyst composition, a polymer produced using the catalyst, and a cable produced therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catalyst comprising: (A) a transition metal compound having the formula: (C 5  R 1   5 )MQ 3 , wherein each R 1  substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C 1  -C 8  alkyl, an aryl, and a heteroatom-substituted aryl or alkyl; wherein two or more R 1  substituents may be linked together forming a ring; M is a transition metal of Group IVB of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of a C 1  -C 20  carboxylate and a C 1  -C 20  carbamate;   (B) a non-phenolic compound having the formula R 5  H, wherein R 5  is a tertiary alkoxy having 4 to 25 carbons, a siloxy moiety (R 6 ) 3  SiO--, wherein each R 6  is the same or different and is a linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a thiolato moiety of 4 to 25 carbons; and   (C) an aluminoxane.   
     
     
       2. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the catalyst further comprises (D) a compound having the formula: R 2  H, wherein R 2  is an alkoxy (R 3  O--), a thiolato (R 3  S--), an amino (R 3   2  N--), or a carboxy (R 4  CO 2  --) group in which each R 4  is the same or different and is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the catalyst further comprises a support or spray drying material is employed. 
     
     
       4. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein Component A is (C 5  Me 5 )TiCl 3  or (C 5  H 5 )TiCl 3 . 
     
     
       5. The catalyst of claim 2 wherein Component B is t-butanol or tri-t-butylmetanol and Component D is methanol. 
     
     
       6. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of Component B to Component A ranges from about 20:1 to 200:1; the molar ratio of Component C to Component A ranges from about 10:1 to 10,000:1, with the proviso that the ratio of Component B to Component D does not exceed 0.7:1. 
     
     
       7. The catalyst of claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of Component B to Component A ranges from about 1:1 to 20:1; the molar ratio of Component C to Component A ranges from about 10:1 to 200:1; the ratio of Component D to Component A ranges from about 50:1 to 1,000:1 with the proviso that neither the ratio of Component B to Component D nor the ratio of Component C to Component D exceed 0.5:1. 
     
     
       8. The catalyst of claim 3 wherein the support or spray drying material is employed in an amount ranging from 7 to 200 g of support or spray drying material per millimole of (A).